Several Erbil neighbourhoods suffer from lack of water

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The residents of several neighbourhoods in Erbil city are desperate to receive water as the temperature nears 50 degrees Celsius. 

Mamar Mohammed from Roshanbiri neighbourhood told Rudaw on Thursday that he has to search for water elsewhere every day after returning from work. 

“I work from dawn to dusk and then I have to find water,” he said in an angry tone. 

Aysha Ahmed from the same neighbourhood said she goes to her sister’s house to take shower because she receives water from the government for only three hours in four days. 

Ahmed Rahim from Bnaslawa said he moved to their neighbourhood four months ago “but I have not received water for more than five times.”

Water scarcity affects Erbil every year, especially neighbourhoods located in the east of the city. 

Zardasht Sarsam is the head of Erbil’s water directorate. He told Rudaw that the water crisis is getting worse every day in several neighbourhoods.

Lack of water has affected IDP camps as well. 

Najah Ibrahim is from Derik (al-Malikiya) in northern Syria. She came to Erbil ten years ago, fleeing the civil war at home. She and her family live in Kawergosk camp which houses some 8,000 Syrian refugees. Water scarcity is one of their main concerns.